Exterior Light Patterns for Communicating Vehicle State to Pedestrians
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver assistance systems struggle to effectively communicate vehicle states to vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, leading to increased accident risks due to misinterpretation of projected visual cues in low-light or adverse conditions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using exterior vehicle lights to display specific light patterns that correspond to the vehicle's actual or upcoming states, enhancing visibility and interpretability for vulnerable road users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual cues are projected onto the road surface to alert pedestrians, then warning capability is improved, but visibility and clarity for vulnerable road users deteriorates in low-light or adverse conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from projecting visual cues onto the road surface (2D plane) to using the vehicle's exterior light sources directly (3D spatial positioning). This dimensional change allows the light patterns to be emitted from elevated positions on the vehicle, making them visible to vulnerable road users without relying on road surface projection, thereby resolving the visibility issue in low-light conditions while maintaining warning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes different colors of exterior lights (e.g., amber, white, red) to convey different vehicle states and warnings. By changing the color of the light patterns emitted from exterior lights, the system provides clear, distinguishable visual information to vulnerable road users that remains visible in various lighting conditions, addressing both the warning capability and visibility requirements
2Loss of information
If complex visual symbols are displayed on the road to communicate vehicle state, then information content is improved, but ease of perception and interpretation by vulnerable users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle's exterior lights into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations (front, rear, side lights). Each light source can be independently controlled to display specific patterns, allowing complex vehicle states to be communicated through simple, localized light patterns rather than complex symbols. This segmentation makes the information easier to perceive and interpret while maintaining comprehensive information content
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of projecting complex symbols onto the road and expecting vulnerable users to interpret them, the patent inverts the approach by using the vehicle's existing exterior lights to directly display simplified light patterns. This inversion simplifies the communication task for vulnerable users while maintaining the information content about vehicle state through intuitive light patterns that are easier to detect and understand
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances situational awareness for vulnerable road users by allowing them to quickly understand and react to the vehicle's states, thereby reducing accident risks.
Implementation Method 1
lighting with the exterior lights of the vehicle a specific light pattern selected based on said data such that the at least one vulnerable road user visualizes the specific light pattern
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A computer-implemented method (20) for informing at least one vulnerable road user of a state of at least one part of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - obtaining (21) data reflecting at least one of an actual and an upcoming states of the at least one part of the vehicle (1); and - lighting (22) with exterior lights (13) of the vehicle (1) a specific light pattern selected based on said data such that the at least one vulnerable road user visualizes the specific light pattern.